Posts

weeks 2 & 3: inquiries and solo side-questing

It's been a minute. Over the past two weeks (as you can tell by the title), I've been doing a lot, but also not much at the same time. From searching for food on my own, venturing down the streets of Hunan Agricultural University, to downloading software to begin my analysis of Oryza Sativa , these past two weeks have really pushed me out of my comfort zone. One fond memory I have is venturing by myself down to Changsha's main downtown area in search of some very scenic photos. Additionally, Lei lent me his bike to use to commute, and it was all going well until it wasn't- the air left the tire. The fondness I have for attempting to fix a bike tire in sweltering heat reminds me of my hometown in North Carolina. (I couldn't fix the bike tire.)  In my research, I am analyzing how temperature differences between wild-type rice and a mutated version of the same species with -17bp, or 17 base pairs removed. This research is also part of Lei's broader question, and is...
Post a Comment
Read more

week 1: the odd comfort of jetlag

Image
Most people would say that the #1 most unenjoyable feature of traveling abroad is bad jet lag. After my first week here in Changsha, I can confidently say that there is a strange sense of comfort in attempting to adjust to a new time zone. However, this pleasant feeling isn't one that is achieved necessarily through actually being comfortable; it's in fact battling with the obvious discomfort of jet lag that makes the feeling so rewarding. What I mean by that is, fighting sleep to see all that Changsha has to offer just goes to show that the environment here truly is something special. From spicy canteen food, lemon-tea boxes, a casual workplace environment, and a gentle smile from each passerby, no amount of sleep deprivation makes me enjoy the city any less.  Surprisingly enough, jet lag hasn't caught me as bad whenever I am in the workplace. Even though my research project hasn't officially begun, I have been floating around the lab primarily with Lei, a Master's...
Post a Comment
Read more